The Department of Agriculture intended to impose a 15-cent tax on fresh-cut Christmas trees that would have taken effect yesterday, but President Obama delayed its implementation after an uproar from conservatives. (The Week)

Last night's Republican presidential debate was yet another disaster for Rick Perry, and Herman Cain responded to a question about accusations of sexual harassment with "for every one person that comes forward with a false accusation, there are thousands who would say none of that sort of activity ever came from Herman Cain." (Washington Post)

An international team of scientists has figured out how to tell if someone is really in a vegetative state by measuring the brain's electrical activity. Some of the patients tested generated brain activity identical to that of a healthy person, signifying that some patients diagnosed as being vegetative may, in fact, be aware. (Washington Post)